CIWF rewards high-welfare poultry firms at annual awards

Animal welfare organisation Compassion in World Farming  (CIWF) has again hailed the businesses it feels make a difference to the welfare of poultry in its annual awards.

CIWF’s Good Chicken and Good Egg awards seek to highlight what the non-profit body feels are progressive moves by retailers and food businesses to improve the welfare of animals in their supply chain.

See also: Report reveals profit fall for poultrymeat and egg producers

This year, 41 businesses were awarded at a ceremony held in Berlin.

Of those, Stonegate’s Clarence Court was recognised for its “free to fly” quail farming system.

No EU standard exists for the farming of quail, and CIWF said the firm had “taken the initiative” to develop a barn system that was higher welfare than more commonly used cages.

McDonald’s was also awarded for a marketing campaign that sought to highlight the measures it takes to improve the welfare of laying hens on the free-range egg farms that supply it.

Capestone Organic picked up a Good Chicken award for its commitment to high welfare and strong environmental credentials.

Best innovation was given to Netherlands retailer Plukon Food Group, for its “Windstreek Stable” concept, a broiler shed designed to maximise natural light and ventilation, add enrichments, all with sustainability in mind.

‘Step change’

Tracey Jones, director of food business at CIWF, said: “Our poultry awards highlight there is no place for cages in modern egg production, and that broiler chickens can be respected as sentient beings not simple commodities. 

“Our poultry award winners demonstrate that a real step change in attitudes and approach towards welfare is taking place.

“Thanks to our winners, chickens who are so often caged or confined, can have a life worth living and even a good life, where their needs are met and the value of their lives embraced.”

A full list of winners can be found on the CIWF website.